CMS Newsroom
News updates from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Read more.
Medicare's Spending on 'Ultra-Expensive' Drugs Increased By 1,170% in 6 Years
As more drugs enter the market with five-figure annual list prices, a large share of Medicare's drug spending is going toward these "ultra-expensive" treatments, according to research published June 7 in Health Affairs. The study found that Medicare Part D’s share of annual spending on ultra-expensive drugs increased by 1,170 percent between 2012 and 2018, largely because more beneficiaries were prescribed such drugs during this time period. Read more.
58% of Medicare Drug Spending Goes Toward Highly Advertised Meds, GAO Finds
Fifty-eight percent of the $560 billion Medicare Parts B and D and their beneficiaries spent on drugs from 2016 through 2018 went toward drugs that were advertised to consumers, the Government Accountability Office stated in a report. Read more.
Aetna | Medicare Updates
See Medicare updates and topics including; 2022 Certification starts 6/29; Promote in-person meetings; Plan summary worksheets and COVID-19 updates. Read more.
Aetna | Help Your DSNP Clients in PA Save Money with BenefitsCheckUp
Do you have Aetna Medicare clients with both Medicare & Medicaid? We're here to help your Dual-eligible Special Needs Plan (DSNP) members in save money on important costs, including those for health care and medications. We're working with the National Council on Aging to offer you access to BenefitsCheckUp. Read more.
Geisinger Gold | Broker Bulletin
See topics including; No computer? No problem. Enroll through our telephonic application hotline; Coming soon: 2022 product training; Did you know? We offer rewards for health screenings and more. Read more.
Highmark | Medigap Updates - Pennsylvania
Rate Adjustments: Annual premium rate adjustments have been approved and will become effective July 1, 2021. Read more.
IBX | The Winning Ticket for the 2022 AEP Season Opener
Medicare AEP season is about to begin…and Independence Blue Cross (Independence) has an all‑star lineup of benefits for you to offer your clients! We've also got the home field advantage; we've been Philly‑5's local team for more than 80 years. Attend one of our two virtual sessions to find out why Independence is still the winning ticket this season. Watch for your official invitation, coming soon! Read more.
Prepare for 2022 Certification: Attend a Webinar
AEP is coming, and it's not too early to prepare for the 2022 certification process. Our upcoming online training will cover such important topics as:
- What to expect when completing Aetna 2022 certification
- Aetna's certification site, including how to access and log-in information
- Instructions for Front Runners
Register Now!
UnitedHealthcare | 2022 Certifications Now Open in Learning Lab!
UnitedHealthcare is excited to announce that starting today, you can certify to sell 2022 UnitedHealthcare Medicare Solutions products in Learning Lab. We’ve simplified the content so you can get started on passing your assessments faster. Content to study is now available in one reference guide. You may read all of the content or just focus on the sections you need to review. After reviewing, take the required assessments and any optional product assessments you need. Read more.
UPMC for Life | 2021 Lock-In Trainings are Live!
UPMC is excited to announce that their virtual lock-in trainings have been updated and are now live on the Broker Training site! Register now.
2022 AEP Medicare Connections Conference
Join us at the Hershey Lodge on September 1st, 2021 for our 8th annual AEP Medicare Connections Conference! This conference is for Medicare agents of every level, from beginner to expert. We'll have carrier presentations, networking, happy hour, games and prizes, and more!
We can't wait to see you there. Register now.
